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Good evening

In late June this year I visited Secunda and photographed this lark like bird some distance away. I have been trying to ID it, and have finally decided on Flappet Lark given the white throat and rufous belly, but I have managed on many occasions to have decided on an ID only to have one of the experts point out a detail I have missed! I am always grateful for this as from every error I learn.

Is this a Fappet Lark?

Thanks
Pete

Hi pnm, I'm not an expert on larks by any means but this looks more like a Spike-heeled lark than a Flappet lark to me.
The billshape looks wrong for Flappet.
Have a look at the two species' bills and see what you think?

I would agree with Spike Heeled Lark

I would also agree with Mel123 and Dotdan

Anyone?

arks,
Although the long tail is not clearly visible the white eyebrow and rufous on the wing are clues that this is a Tawny-flanked Prinia.

Thanks, Lizet, that makes total sense — I just couldn't see it on my own

Another birdie that I've no clue what it might be The only birds I know of that have such distinct white eye 'make-up' are white eyes and and bulbuls, and it's not (I'm fairly certain ) either of those. And while I've searched thru my field guide several times, I've found nothing else anywhere similar Am I missing something obvious? Seen at Nylsvley on 27 April 2012.

Hi Arks

From what I can make out, it looks to me like a White Browed Scrub-Robin.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, DD I've googled a bit and found plenty that are very similar to this birdie.

Hi mel123, DotDan and Ladybirder - thanks for the help. I have looked again carefully and agree with the Spike-heeled Lark. I didn't look closley enough at the bill. Thanks for the help.

Pete in a very cold and wet Paarl

Cisticolas continue to baffle me The first one I saw near Olifants in KNP on 25 April 2012. I'd thought that it was Levaillant's, only now, reading in another thread, it seems that Levaillant's doesn't occur in KNP? So it might be rattling or wailing or rufouswinged?



This second one I saw at Nylsvley (Limpopo) on 27 April 2012. Is it a Levaillant's?

To me they both look like Rattling.

First one Rattling cisticola
second one definitely not Levaillant's, it has more black markings on back.It looks also like a Rattling.

Thanks so much, MattAxel and Ladybirder!